Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
FBS vs Interactive Brokers
FBS vs Interactive Brokers: the differences
| Compare |  FBS |  Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Metals | Bonds, ETFs, Forex, Funds, Futures, Options, Stocks |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission | SEC, FCA, SIPC |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Trader Workstation |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66.43% | Not confirmed |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.5% | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.38% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | ISA, SIPP, IRA, Joint, Corporate |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.38% |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Interactive Brokers scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.1.
- Regulators: only FBS offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Regulators: only Interactive Brokers offers SEC, FCA, SIPC.
- Founded is lower at Interactive Brokers: 1978 vs 2009.
- Interactive Brokers is licensed in 1 more country.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Interactive Brokers: $0 vs $5.
- Markets: only FBS offers CFDs, Metals.
- Markets: only Interactive Brokers offers Bonds, Funds, Futures.
- Platforms: only FBS offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5.
- Platforms: only Interactive Brokers offers Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile.
Our verdict on each
FBS
Fbs Partners suits readers who want a plain, low cost picture from a firm regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission: the account fee is $0 and the stock trade fee is $0. The EUR/USD spread of 0.5% and the retail loss rate of 66.43% are the figures to weigh before funding.
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers suits investors who want a single account across ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint and corporate holdings, with stocks, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures behind it. It ranks 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit at $0, and stock trades are charged at $0.
Score breakdown
| Area | FBS | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3 | 9.3Stock trades cost $0, the minimum deposit is $0 and an options contract costs $0.65. |
| Offer | 9.3 | 9.6HigherAccount types cover isa, sipp and ira, and the market list spans bonds, etfs and forex. |
| Trust | 8.8 | 9.8Higher |
Availability and regulation
| Country | FBS | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | FCA 208159 |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 53615 |
How they place
| Ranking | FBS | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 110 of 471 | 44 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 47 of 147 | 16 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 45 of 145 | 14 of 145 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | FBS | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Metals | Yes | No |
What we checked
FBS
- investing.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fbs.eu: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Interactive Brokers
- interactivebrokers.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokersway.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- toponlineforexbrokers.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- euinvestinghub.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- eupersonalfinance.eu: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | FBS | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Tradestone Limited | INTERACTIVE BROKERS LLC |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | United States |
| Founded | 2009 | 1978Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Help centre, Community |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | FBS | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | FBS | Interactive Brokers | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5below the median | $0below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66.43%below the median | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.5%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.65% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
FBS
Pros
- An account regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission licenses Tradestone Limited under 331/17, so the contract has a named entity behind it.
- The stock trade fee is $0 on a commission free model, so dealing in the shares and ETFs inside stocks, etfs and forex carries no ticket charge.
- The inactivity fee is $0, so a dormant balance is not quietly drained by account charges.
Cons
- The EUR/USD spread of 0.5% is the charge that lands on every forex and CFD trade, so currency traders feel it more than the flat fees suggest.
- The minimum deposit of $5 sits above CFI's $0, so readers who want the smallest opening balance have a lower floor elsewhere.
- The market list stocks, etfs and forex leaves out crypto and futures, which eToro covers in stocks, etfs and forex.
Interactive Brokers
Pros
- A stock trade costs $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, the pairing behind rank 1 of 161 on stock trade fees among the brokers tracked here.
- The account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira, so an ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint or corporate account all sit under a single provider.
- bonds, etfs and forex puts stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures on the same account, with a margin rate of 4.38% for geared positions.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and community, so a phone line and live chat sit outside the offer.
- bonds, etfs and forex covers shares, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures but leaves out crypto and CFDs, which eToro lists in stocks, etfs and forex.
- An options contract costs $0.65 against a stock trade at $0, so options strategies pay a visible premium per contract.
Who each suits
FBS
Who it suits
- Beginners opening a new trading account: the minimum deposit is $5 and the account fee is $0.
- Readers who hold shares and ETFs alongside forex: stocks, etfs and forex covers that mix on the same account.
- European readers who want a Cyprus regulated firm: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission licenses the entity behind the brand.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want the smallest possible opening balance: CFI takes $0.
- Readers who need crypto or futures in the same account: eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, and those lines sit outside stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who want crypto added to a forex, CFD, stock, ETF and metals mix: Vantage covers forex, cfds and stocks.
Interactive Brokers
Who it suits
- Investors holding money across several wrappers, since the account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira.
- Traders who want options, futures, forex and bonds alongside shares on a single account, per bonds, etfs and forex.
- Anyone starting with a small balance: the minimum deposit is $0 and fractional shares appear in the feature list (fractional shares and mobile app).
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who trades crypto or CFDs, since bonds, etfs and forex leaves both out while eToro lists them in stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who want a stated entry figure as a signal of the provider's target size, since Vantage publishes $5 where this broker's minimum is $0.
Questions about each
FBS
What does it cost to run an account at Fbs Partners?+
The account fee is $0, the stock trade fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so nothing is charged for holding the account, dealing in shares or leaving a balance idle. Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge either. What remains on a forex or CFD trade is the spread, quoted at 0.5% on EUR/USD.
How much does the EUR/USD spread cost in practice?+
The EUR/USD spread is 0.5%. On a currency pair that spread is the dealer's charge for opening and closing, so it lands on every position rather than on a ticket line. The stock trade fee of $0 and the account fee of $0 sit alongside it, which makes the spread the number to size positions around.
Interactive Brokers
What does it cost to trade shares?+
A stock trade is charged at $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so opening an account and dealing in shares carry no charge. The money sits in derivatives and leverage instead, where an options contract costs $0.65 and the margin rate is listed at 4.38%.
Is my money protected?+
The regulatory list runs to SEC, FCA and SIPC, and investor protection is stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000. The UK entry is the FCA under licence 208159, while the US side names the SEC and the SIPC membership SIPC member 53615. The protection figure describes the scheme stated for the account and says nothing about how a trade performs.
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